Adderley Locks amid thundery skies

Sunday 11th June 2023.

Sunday 11th June 2023.

Say hello to “Kingsholm” as she navigates Lock Number 5 at Adderley on the Shropshire Union Canal, Sunday 11th June 2023 (Author’s Collection).

With Sunday’s battle for supremacy in the world of cricket between Australia and India ending all too soon when I was rather hoping to watch and listen to the thwack of willow upon leather long into a lazy Sunday evening, alas there was nothing else for it but to depart for the history and majesty of the canals once and, well, grab some sunshine before the heavens descended once more with God’s angry wrath of thunder and lightning!

All of this was for later but as the clouds darkened and I bid farewell to a middle aged cyclist who’d stopped to admire the same view I was currently enjoying (although clearly a well educated man he repeatedly ended every sentence with either “fuck” or “fucked” which amused me greatly), we remarked on the storm heading our way before our human ships continued to pass each other on the river of life, and into an early afternoon beside a canal in the beating heart of central England.

So please accept a hearty welcome from the five canal locks of Adderley and a mile or so stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal slap bang in the middle of beautiful Audlem to the north and her fifteen canal locks, and the five canal locks at Tyrley to the south just past Market Drayton, a feature of a coming article, and on the very same thundery afternoon after the beginning to a “heat-wave” UK Summer of Sunday, 11th June 2023.

I hope you enjoy this pictorial stroll in the countryside and beside the Shropshire Union Canal in central England.

View from Bridge Number 72 of the Shropshire Union Canal or “Hawksmoor Bridge”, and the beginning of a short, winding stretch of canal and its five locks.

Please say hello to “Eva” and the fifth lock of Adderley ahead of “Massey’s Bridge” just visible ahead.

Bridge Number 71 of the Shropshire Union Canal or “Massey’s Bridge” with lock number 4 immediately behind it.

Return view from lock number 4 and “Massey’s Bridge”.

Lock number 3 lies ahead!

Return view from Lock Number 3 at Adderley.

Old, refurbished or minted new, these signposts are pleasingly dotted in this exact style throughout the 66+ miles of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Approaching Bridge Number 70 or “Wems Bridge”, with Lock Number 2 directly behind it.

It was here atop “Adderley Wharf Bridge” that I met and chatted with that passing cyclist for a rather pleasing 15 minutes of conversation in the passing sunshine. This was the backdrop to our albeit brief chat.

View from “Adderley Wharf Bridge” heading south to Market Drayton, a feature here in a future article!

A final beautiful view from “Adderley Wharf Bridge” before the return walk.

A final view from “Adderley Wharf Bridge” and only because the lady in the front of the passing boat waved enthusiastically and shouted “Hello! We are from Sweden!”.

Oh ok, one last one from “Adderley Wharf Bridge” because it’s so damn beautiful.

Beautiful reverse view of Locks 1 and 2 at Adderley ahead of “Wems Bridge” in the distance.

Someone’s going down at Lock Number 2 at Adderley!

View from the top of Lock Number 3 with Number 4 straight ahead and “Massey’s Bridge” behind it.

Tackling Lock Number 4 at Adderley, Sunday 11th June 2023.

Thanks for reading. There are now well over 100 articles contained within my “UK Travel” library or alternatively, please see the links below to my three most recently released articles from my local travels so far this Summer:

Salvador Dali in the sunshine of Shrewsbury
10th June 2023.medium.com

Sunshine from the Shropshire Union Canal
Gnosall to Norbury Junction, 8th June 2023.medium.com

A sunshine return to Lilleshall Abbey
Thursday 8th June 2023.medium.com